Arbitration

Interpretation

1 (1) Arbitration is subject to the arbitration agreement made between the parties and the arbitrator, which must be made with regard for the arbitration legislation existing in the jurisdiction in which the proceeding is commenced.

(2) In applying these rules and the terms of the arbitration agreement, the arbitrator will make orders and give directions that are proportionate to the importance and complexity of the issues, and to the amount involved, in the proceeding. 

(3) Where matters are not provided for in these rules, the practice will be determined by analogy to them.

(4) The arbitrator has the exclusive authority to interpret any word or provision of the rules or the arbitration agreement.

(5) Either party may request an interpretation from the arbitrator.

Commencement of proceeding

2 An arbitral proceeding commences when the arbitration agreement is signed by the parties and the arbitrator.

Official languages

3 The languages of arbitration are English and French, and either may be used interchangeably during a proceeding provided that both parties can understand each other.

Method of correspondence

4 All correspondence connected to the proceeding, including correspondence which delivers documents to the parties and the arbitrator, must be sent using electronic mail.

Arbitrator’s powers

5 (1) The arbitrator has the power necessary to efficiently and impartially conclude the proceeding.

(2) Without limiting the general power provided in sub-section (1), the arbitrator has power to

1. adjourn the proceeding from time to time;
2. order the inspection of documents, exhibits, or other property;
3. order the recording or transcription of any part of an oral hearing;
4. extend or abridge any period of time required by these rules or by a previous interim order;
5. make interim orders that do not deal with the substance of the dispute;
6. request further statements clarifying issues in dispute; and
7. request court assistance in taking evidence.

Timeline for proceeding

6 (1) The arbitrator establishes a timeline for the conduct of the proceeding after consulting with the parties. 

Requirements of timeline

(2) Unless otherwise ordered, the proceeding timeline must include:

1. the delivery of a statement of claim;
2. the delivery of a statement of defense and, where necessary, any counterclaim;
3. the production of evidence; and
4. the delivery of an agreed statement of facts.

Written proceeding

7 (1) The arbitration is conducted on the basis of written submissions and evidence.

(2) An oral hearing may be ordered at a party’s request.

(3) The arbitrator’s order for an oral hearing must amend the timeline for the conduct of the proceeding to specify the hearing’s date, time, and location.

Interim decisions

8 The arbitrator makes interim decisions on his own initiative or at a party’s request after receiving arguments from the parties.

Pleadings

9 (1) A statement of claim must set out:

1. the facts supporting the claim;
2. the grounds, including applicable principles of law and equity, that support the claim;
3. the points in issue; and
4. the relief or remedy that the claimant is seeking.

(2) A statement of defence must include:

1. the facts supporting the defense;
2. the grounds, including applicable principles of law and equity, that support the defense;
3. the points in issue; and
4. the relief or remedy that the defendant is seeking.

(3) When necessary, a counterclaim is initiated by including the information required for a statement of claim with respect to the counterclaim in the statement of defense.

(4) A statement defined in this section must be accompanied by access to all documents referred to in the statement.

Agreed statement of facts

10 Unless otherwise instructed, the parties must produce a joint statement of facts that neither of them dispute.

Admissible evidence at the arbitrator’s discretion

11 (1) The arbitrator may accept oral, written, or any other type of evidence as the arbitrator in his discretion considers proper, whether admissible in a court of law or not.

(2) The arbitrator may, in the presence of the parties or their representatives, inspect any real or personal property connected with the proceeding.

Production of evidence

12 As soon as practicable after a statement defined in section 11 is received, the arbitrator will request the production of any evidence that he considers material to establish the facts of the case.

Request for production of evidence

13 (1) A party may request the production of evidence from another party by showing to the arbitrator that the evidence is

1. not in the control or possession of the requesting party;
2. relevant to the matter before the arbitrator; and is
3. assumed to be in the control or possession of the disclosing party.

(2) The arbitrator will deny production where he ascertains that the requested evidence is 

1. missing particulars such that the precise nature of the evidence is inascertainable;
2. protected from production by a recognized category of privilege; or
3. lost or destroyed.

(3) Nothing in this section restricts the arbitrator’s ability to deny production where such production would be disproportionate to the importance and complexity of the issues, and to the amount involved, in the proceeding.

Close of proceedings

14 The arbitrator closes proceedings when the timeline created by rule 6 ends.

Decision

15 The arbitrator renders a final decision in writing within 28 days of the close of proceedings.

Functus officio

16 The arbitrator loses jurisdiction if one of the following events occurs:

1. when the matter is settled;
2. when the matter is abandoned;
3. 30 days after a final decision is rendered in the matter; or
4. the matter is otherwise concluded.

Pre-arbitration

Initiate arbitration

Reply to initiated arbitration

Arbitration

Statement of claim

Statement of defense & counterclaim

Agreed statement of facts